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Turkey has suspended the European Convention on Human Rights, in a move that will raise further fears about the country’s drift toward authoritarianism.

The announcement came a day after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared a state of emergency expected to last up to 45 days.

While some rights in the Convention — such as the right to life, and the ban on retroactive punishment and torture — cannot be suspended, Turkey’s European neighbours fear a continued erosion of democracy and freedoms.

Eight states have suspended the ECHR since it came into force in 1953, including the UK during the Troubles and after the Sept 11 2001 terrorist attacks.

On Thursday, Austria became the first country to take diplomatic action over the crackdown, saying it would summon Turkey's ambassador to discuss Ankara's "increasingly authoritarian" behaviour and allegations it had been behind recent Turkish protests in Vienna.

Meanwhile, the UK’s Foreign Affairs Committee said it was to launch an inquiry into Britain’s relations with Turkey and the impact of the crackdown on democracy and human rights.

Mehmet Simsek, the deputy prime minister, tried to dispel fears on Thursday that the country would return to the deep repression seen the last time it was under similar measures.

"The state of emergency in Turkey won't include restrictions on movement, gatherings and free press, etc. It isn't martial law of 1990s," he said. "I'm confident Turkey will come out of this with much stronger democracy, better functioning market economy and enhanced investment climate."

But as he made his statement, the crackdown spread to journalists and human rights lawyers.

Orhan Kemal Cengiz, a leading newspaper columnist and lawyer, was arrested at the airport as he tried to leave the country.

Police also raided the printing house of well-known satirical magazine Le Man.

A woman lays her head on the coffin of a victim of the failed coup attemptCredit:
Getty

Dozens of families waited at the Caglayan courthouse in Istanbul on Thursday for a glimpse of their fathers, sons and brothers detained on suspicion of involvement in the attempted coup.

One woman, who did not wish to give her name, said three of her soldier sons had been arrested in the round-up.

“They are honest men, I can tell you they are dedicated to the army and would never rebel as they are accused of doing,” she told the Telegraph as she waited to see them appear before a judge. “I am their mother, I would know.

“I don’t know how they are being treated, I have heard nothing from them. I have heard about torture.”

Images published in pro-government newspapers showed the supposed mastermind of the coup attempt, former Air Force commander Akin Ozturk, with a heavily bruised face and a bandaged ear.

Lt Col Levent Turkkan, the aide to Turkey’s army chief, was pictured with a blackened eye and his torso and right hand bandaged.

Amnesty International said they were investigating reports that detained soldiers faced ill-treatment in custody and were being denied access to lawyers.

Meanwhile, eight suspected coup plotters who fled to Greece after the attempted putsch were on Thursday handed a two month suspended sentence for illegally entering the country. Their asylum claims are still being considered.

The inquiry by the British Foreign Affairs Committee will also look at the case for Turkey joining the EU, which was discussed throughout the referendum to leave. As Britain exits the EU, the current state of relations will be examined.

Turkey’s role in the war against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) will also be considered along with the country’s foreign and security policies in the Middle East.